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The Wailin' Jennys — Old Man
Album: 40 Days
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 278









Released: 2004
Length: 3:00
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Old man, look at my life, I'm a lot like you

Old man, take a look at my life
Twenty-four and I'm so much more
Live alone in a paradise, makes me think of two

Love lost at such a cost
Give me things that don't get lost
Like a coin that won't get tossed, rolling home to you

Old man, take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me the whole day through
Oh, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true

Lullabies, look in your eyes
Run around the same old town
Doesn't mean that much to me, mean that much to you

I've been first and last
Look at how the time goes past
But I'm all alone at last, rolling home to you

Old man, take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me the whole day through
Oh, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true

Old man, look at my life, I'm a lot like you
Comments (62)add comment
 Cruzan wrote:
Try Annie Lennox' version of "Dont let it bring you down"

to me that is more like it..
 
Yes, this is OK but Lennox's cover is great.

Posted 14 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
 Cruzan wrote:
Dolly Parton does Neil Young...........
 
{#Eek} She does? I bet old Neil is happy but how does his wife feel about this? {#Wink}
Posted 14 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
Try Annie Lennox' version of "Dont let it bring you down"

to me that is more like it..
Posted 14 years ago by Cruzan    [ Reply ]

A man I would still like to call my friend, once left these lyrics taped to the door of his parents refrigerator as he left home for good.  I don't think the Wailin' Jennys voices were what he had in his head as the screen door slammed that last time. . . 

Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
It pains me to write this, because normally I love the Jennys, but this is awful.

This song is supposed to be a painful lament. This version sounds like a sweet ballad. Seems like they completely missed the point. Ugh.
Posted 14 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
Beautiful harmonies, but seems insincere.
Posted 14 years ago by Susan_Ssun    [ Reply ]
Dolly Parton does Neil Young...........
Posted 14 years ago by Cruzan    [ Reply ]
 johkir wrote:
Their voices are a little too chipper for this song at times.
Yes. This is brutal, sorry. It's doing a cover for the sake of doing a cover. Sometimes, songs are better left alone. Like this one.


Posted 14 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
The tempo seems too speedy, not only because the original is blazed into my brain at a slower speed, but the lyrics, to me, need to be expressed more slowly. This is first song of theirs that does not seem inspired.
Posted 15 years ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
I'm not sure what it is with this song.  It started as an 8, slipped to a 7 and finished as a 6 for me.
Posted 15 years ago by kerryn    [ Reply ]
 johkir wrote:
Their voices are a little too chipper for this song at times.
 
You're right.


Posted 15 years ago by spindrift    [ Reply ]
At least they don't sound like they are singing through a thick woolen blanket in this one...

Posted 15 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
 johkir wrote:
Their voices are a little too chipper for this song at times.
 
I don't think they get the mood of the original. {#Rolleyes}
Posted 15 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
I am surprised at the rather low rating and unfavorable comments...I'm a big Neil Young from way back and I've always liked this cover...to each his own I guess
Posted 15 years ago by fatcatjb    [ Reply ]
Love the guitar arrangement on this, wonderful, wonderful cover of a classic...........
Posted 15 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
 tictocsailor wrote:
They do very well by this song. Maybe a notch below NY, but very impressive.
 

I'd second this. Hard to improve on Neil's version, but this isn't bad. I don't quite get the haunting feeling I get from listening to the original...like someone else mentioned, maybe it's that their voices are a little chipper-sounding for the song. Really good cover, though.

Posted 15 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
Their voices are a little too chipper for this song at times.
Posted 15 years ago by johkir    [ Reply ]
Hard to screw up a song as good as this one.   And these folks don't screw it up.    I can still hear Neil but can also hear their unique take.     Works for me....
Posted 15 years ago by bpkengor    [ Reply ]
Just cannot get into this one, even though I do like a portion of their stuff.
Posted 15 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
at least I can tolerate their voices.
Posted 15 years ago by dogpound    [ Reply ]
I want to know if they're all Jennys'.
Posted 15 years ago by Jazbo    [ Reply ]
 calypsus_1 wrote:

 

great version, tribute to autor of original song writing by Mr. Neil Young and published in 1972-  ** 8 **



 

It makes sense: the ladies are from Neil's hometown of Winnipeg.
Posted 15 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
Very nice cover of one of my favorite NY songs.  8
Posted 15 years ago by anotherlistener    [ Reply ]
Wow.  Spare, yet soaring.
Posted 15 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
They do very well by this song. Maybe a notch below NY, but very impressive.
Posted 15 years ago by tictocsailor    [ Reply ]
 burdell wrote:
What a stupid choice of a song to cover. Sorry, but it makes absolutely no sense from a young female duo.
 

trio I think.
Posted 15 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
A great re-working of a gold standard song. Wonderful harmonies!
Posted 15 years ago by Welly    [ Reply ]

 

great version, tribute to autor of original song writing by Mr. Neil Young and published in 1972-  ** 8 **



Posted 16 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
I also prefer Neil Young's wonderful version of this song. The WJ's sort of throw away the lyrics, I feel. The whole thing is sort of understated, and this is such a powerful lyric. Bah.
Posted 16 years ago by Rotterdam    [ Reply ]
I normally like these girls' stuff. This is an exception. They don't bring anything to the song, and this sounds like open mike nite at some coffeehouse. It's hard to believe that this is on the same album as Arlington. Sorry. 5


Posted 16 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
Wailin' ain't wrong. {#Puke}Leave NY alone, or leave him to some one who can do the song justice.
Posted 16 years ago by maxtheokapi    [ Reply ]
 burdell wrote:
What a stupid choice of a song to cover. Sorry, but it makes absolutely no sense from a young female duo.
 

This is probably the most underated song of all time...the fact the WJs may have recognized it is a tribute to them.
Posted 16 years ago by ppak    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a 45 on 78 speed.
Posted 16 years ago by themotion    [ Reply ]
Gah, write your own songs, you silly cow.
Posted 16 years ago by TJS    [ Reply ]
the_om wrote:
I like this, but I generally do like covers. I really like Neil's version, and this somehow lacks some of the gut feel, but it is nice.
Posted 16 years ago by islander    [ Reply ]
What a stupid choice of a song to cover. Sorry, but it makes absolutely no sense from a young female duo.
Posted 16 years ago by burdell    [ Reply ]
joeychick wrote:
Love the harmonies. They're giving me goosebumps. I like it.
Posted 16 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Posted 16 years ago by the_om    [ Reply ]
Love the harmonies. They're giving me goosebumps. I like it.
Posted 16 years ago by joeychick    [ Reply ]
ugh
Posted 16 years ago by Glockman45    [ Reply ]
I really like this version. Very nice. And by nature I'm not a fan of cover versions of songs.
Posted 17 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
meydele wrote:
All true, but I still don't like this cover much.
Me neither. But then, I detested the original as well. But if I have to hear this song, I'll take the Jennys over NY, though there are NY songs I do like.
Posted 17 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
Gaylord_Meatface wrote:
UM, ok.... jeez....
I came back to 'retract' the part that "NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO SUGGEST....." We ALL have the right to suggest whatever we want, I have no right to suggest what rights others are entitled to. You & I are among the rare few who are blessed in the extreme to be living in countries where censoship is NOT a way of life.
Posted 17 years ago by buckskin    [ Reply ]
UM, ok.... jeez.... buckskin wrote:
Had they done THAT I'd not have heard it. Even tho I only 6'd it, I respect the artists right & courage for trying.Not the most pleasing?WHO CARES!!!I don't have to (&don't) like everything I hear;either here, in my car, wherever.NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SUGGEST THAT THE AUDIENCE BE DEPRIVED OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE & DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES
Posted 17 years ago by Gaylord_Meatface    [ Reply ]
Gaylord_Meatface wrote:
Ok, they can enjoy playing it in their basement. Not in the radio. It just seems like a coffee shop version. Too bad, I don't mind the Jennys.
Had they done THAT I'd not have heard it. Even tho I only 6'd it, I respect the artists right & courage for trying.Not the most pleasing?WHO CARES!!!I don't have to (&don't) like everything I hear;either here, in my car, wherever.NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SUGGEST THAT THE AUDIENCE BE DEPRIVED OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE & DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES
Posted 17 years ago by buckskin    [ Reply ]
Good harmony;interesting take(arrangement/production); not hateful-a 6
Posted 17 years ago by buckskin    [ Reply ]
I think the harmonies have a 70's feel, which fits the song nicely. The band's from from Winnipeg, where Neil once lived...
Posted 17 years ago by Nuance    [ Reply ]
Great album, sweet harmonies, what not to like...
Posted 17 years ago by paganpete    [ Reply ]
Pyro wrote:
Because as an artist, you might actually enjoy performing a song? Because your take on that song might actually move someone, when the original may not have? Because some people like Neil's writing but not his voice? Plenty of reasons. I prefer the original, as this one is a little to "peppy happy" for me, BUT I think as a cover, it has merit. My two cents.
All true, but I still don't like this cover much.
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
Sing-a-long!
Posted 17 years ago by Welly    [ Reply ]
I saw Neil Young do this song last night on a replay of an "In Concert" from somewhen in the 1970's. This version doesn't really cut it.
Posted 17 years ago by AlienRelic    [ Reply ]
Pyro wrote:
Because as an artist, you might actually enjoy performing a song? Because your take on that song might actually move someone, when the original may not have? Because some people like Neil's writing but not his voice? Plenty of reasons. I prefer the original, as this one is a little to "peppy happy" for me, BUT I think as a cover, it has merit. My two cents.
Ok, they can enjoy playing it in their basement. Not in the radio. It just seems like a coffee shop version. Too bad, I don't mind the Jennys.
Posted 17 years ago by Gaylord_Meatface    [ Reply ]
thewiseking wrote:
a cover should add something. if it doesn't, why bother?
Because as an artist, you might actually enjoy performing a song? Because your take on that song might actually move someone, when the original may not have? Because some people like Neil's writing but not his voice? Plenty of reasons. I prefer the original, as this one is a little to "peppy happy" for me, BUT I think as a cover, it has merit. My two cents.
Posted 17 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
I'm digging the harmonies. The changes in some of the guitar parts sound pretty good too. I like when a cover is not a complete remake of the original.
Posted 17 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
One of the most clever band names ever...
Posted 17 years ago by Sunman    [ Reply ]
I'll take the original thank you
Posted 17 years ago by Magnus    [ Reply ]
This is great!
Posted 17 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
a cover should add something. if it doesn't, why bother?
Posted 17 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Nice cover, right here.
Posted 17 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
i think this works pretty well.
Posted 17 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
every song on this album is terrific!
Posted 18 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]